Thursday, September 22, 2011

Moree, NSW.

Moree is famous for having hot springs.  I thought that we were very lucky that the caravan park where we had booked in had its own thermal pools, but as you drive in to Moree, the main road is lined with motels all boasting their own hot pools.  Apparently you just pop down a spear here and up shoots the hot water.

Our caravan park has a lap pool at 28 degrees, and four other pools at 34, 35, 37 and 39 degrees – basically for standing in.  There is a whole sub-culture of “taking the waters.” This huge park is absolutely packed with grey nomads who are very serious about these waters.  They stand around in large groups up to their necks in the various pools, intently chatting.  There is no actual swimming – there isn’t room.  We parked ourselves in the 37 degree pool next to an Italian man from Melbourne, who had been here with his wife for three weeks.  I asked him what he did while they were staying in Moree.  He said he comes to the pools three times a day, and that’s about it.

Large groups of the nomads celebrate happy hour together and have barbecues together.  I guess they all know each other quite well by now.

The waters have a very pleasant and silky feel.  They are still – no spa bubbles – and it’s very easy to while away your time just standing in them.  A sign suggests that you spend no more than 15 minutes in the 39 degree pool, but I’m not sure how well this is observed.

An unusual feature is the absence of children.  I suppose the pools are too deep for them to stand in – they are also a bit deep for short people, so I have discovered.

IMG_2872
At the front is the 37 degree pool, with the 39 degree pool to the left, under the shade cloth.  This picture was taken early in the morning, when there weren’t so many people there.  In the late afternoon, it was packed out.  The 34 and 35 degree pools are at the back, under cover.

IMG_2873
Next morning, I did a few laps in the 28 degree lap pool.  You can see that there aren’t too many people in it.

IMG_2874
Then I stood around for a while in the 37 degree pool (foreground) and the 39 degree pool (left).  Very pleasant!  The nomads around us were planning to meet at 11am “for scones”.  How delightful!

Copy of IMG_2900
South of Moree, the road was lined with carpets of yellow and purple flowers, interspersed with sprinkles of white flowers and vivid orange bushes.  Against the horizon, banks of blue mountains unrolled against the sky. 

No comments:

Post a Comment